Gene Crop Destroyed

An experimental crop of oilseed rape, owned by the US based biotech corporation Monsanto, has been destroyed by local residents at a farm near Coventry.

The action took place on the evening of Wednesday 6th August at Tibs Hall Farm, Kingsbury near Tamworth, Staffs. The genetically altered crop, containing mutant DNA, was uprooted from its experimental plot by people wearing protective clothing. The plants were then broken before being mixed together with ‘normal’ plants to invalidate the experiment’s results.

The mutant DNA in this crop could have easily spread to the surrounding area either through cross pollination or through virus infection. No-one can guarantee that this cannot happen. Several studies have shown that the pollen of transgenic oilseed rape can cross- pollinate with traditional or wild species, spreading the genetic pollution.

To find out where your local GMO test site is, get a full copy of the GMO public register from the Dept of the Environment Biotech Unit on 0171 276 8331. The more people that have copies of this the better. You can also check it out on the web at: <http:// www.shef.ac.uk/~doe> For more info, why not take out a free subscription to ‘Genetix Update’, Box 9659, London N4 4JY 0181 374 9516